Value For Money Needed From Consumer Agency

Today, I urged caution in the hunt for a new CEO of the National Consumer Agency, given the Agency is due to be merged in just a few months’ time.

The role, as is advertised, will attract a salary of in excess of €130k, yet the role of CEO won’t actually exist in a few months’ time when the body is merged with the Competition Authority. I would like an assurance that, when the merger happens, the salary will be reduced commensurately, as the CEO will – according to the terms of the contract – become an ‘ordinary member’ of the organisation, a role that is certainly not worth such a large sum.

I am aware that a CEO is required for this organisation under law and, as such, I believe the best thing to do instead would be to expedite the merger and make it happen as soon as possible. For an organisation that is supposed to be about generating value for money, I find it a bit counterproductive to go ahead with this appointment, on this salary, when it is fully known that the Agency won’t exist in just a few months.